Tag Archives: not happening

More feedback today from a Make It Happen client, and frankly I’m not sure what to make of this. A client who uses a very distinctive name writes that his dream was to make “Artistic Pride” happen, by August 19 2010. He writes

“I think I got sidetracked by different pursuits and I’m unsure of what I really want to achieve most.”

I remember talking to this client, and at the time I remember not being entirely sure what artistic pride really meant. I think he meant that he didn’t take pride in the work that he was doing as a musician. I can’t help but think of an article I read in Wine and Spirits (stay with me …) about California Syrah producers who had stopped drinking the wines that they were making. Their wines were big, fat, hot, sweet, and clumsy. They didn’t like them any more, and finally one of them had the guts to make subtler, lighter, more interesting wines. Maybe this client has the same problem — he doesn’t like his own style. He needs to try something unlikely to be popular, something weird, and something he likes better.

My advice to this client is to drink some of the weird, funky, cloudy, iconoclastic wines that Joe Dressner imports, especially those from the Loire in France. Those wine-makers are definitely making art that makes themselves happy.

Feedback today from Make It Happen client Takashi. His dream was to move to the West Coast by April 2019. Sounds like he gave himself plenty of time in which to make it happen. So far, there has not been much progress.

Takashi writes:

“This gave me physical, mental, or any opportunity to think about this dream more seriously. Why West? Is good point to think again.”

I can’t tell if Takashi is questioning his desire to move west, or if he’s just ready to chew it over some more. Didn’t Lao Zi, Taoist extraordinaire, go west on the back of an ox? Maybe Takashi needs to consider finding a willing bovine.

Make it Happen™ clients will soon receive the contracts that they filled out at Flux Factory on February 19, 2010.

To better serve our clients, we kindly request that you complete and return the enclosed postcard survey, which asks if you:

a) Made it Happen

b) Are in the midst of making it happen.

or

c) Have not made it happen.

If you wish to elaborate further on how your participation in Make it Happen™ contributed to achieving your dream, if you wish to tell us more about how you are currently engaged in fulfilling your commitment to Make it Happen™, or if you care to discuss why did you not achieve your dream, please elaborate in the comments area below or email us at MakeItHappen.TM@gmail.com.

Can not making it happen count as making it happen? Make It Happen has yet to develop a position on not making it happen. But like Samuel Beckett, we suspect there may be value in failing a few times. It’s a great way to warm up to making it happen later. As the playwright wrote, “No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Make It Happen counsels patience and persistence in all endeavors. We remain confident in Joann’s ability to make it happen. Also, we look great in her pictures.